Many Pakistanis remain grateful to the assistance of Mrs Ann. (Google photo)
LAHORE — Most Pakistanis are angry with White House hopeful Barak Obama's adventurous intentions to mount attacks inside their country, yet many of them feel otherwise about his mother who spent five years in the eastern Punjab province. "Obama is the son of an honorable lady, who has served for Pakistan. I am sure he will not turn out to be a dangerous person for our country," Jamal Hassan, a student of Ann Dunham, told Islamonline.net.
When Ann came to Pakistan in October 1987 to serve as an Asian Development Bank consultant she used her full name, Ann Dunham Sudoro, because by the time she had divorced Obama's father and married an Indonesian.
She supervised the implementation of an ADB project for developing the agriculture and cottage industry in the rural areas of Punjab, the most populous province of Pakistan, through micro-financing.
Her additional responsibility was to train the mobile credit officers of Pakistan’s agriculture development bank.
She stayed in Lahore’s Avari towers hotel and used to out-back daily from Lahore, the capital of Punjab, to the northeastern city of Gujranwala, some 70 kilometers away.
"I had never thought that the son of my teacher would become such an important figure," said Hassan, who was one of 30 mobile credit officers trained by Mrs Dunham Ann in Gujranwala.
He has been in touch with Senator Obama.
"When I introduced myself to him (through email) as a student of his mother, he thought that I was an American. But when I introduced myself as a Pakistani citizen, he expressed his happiness and thanked me for remembering him and his mother."
Obama's mother died of ovarian cancer in 1995 at the age of 52.
Helpful
Mohammad Aslam, who served as a peon at Mrs Ann’s office from 1987 to 1992, shares many happy memories.
"She was a wonderful lady. She never misbehaved with us," he told IOL.
"The best thing I found in her was her punctuality. She used to travel 70 Kilometers every day, but during five years, she had never been late," Aslam remembers.
"We still miss her."
Mrs Ann’s had to convince the people residing in villages to borrow micro-finance loans and establish their own businesses.
"Though, she didn’t know much about the local language, she had a great communication skill," Hassan remembers.
"She convinced scores of women (belonging to cottage industry) to establish their own businesses and earn while sitting at home. They (women) otherwise could have never thought about establishing and running a business in a feudal society."
Mohammed Arif, whose parents borrowed a micro-finance loan through Mrs Ann and established their own businesses, remains thankful to her.
"She convinced my mother and father to borrow loans and buy sewing machines and a buffalo respectively," he told IOL.
"Many years have passed but we still remember that lady because it was she who played a major role in changing our lifestyle.
"She sincerely wanted to alleviate poverty from the area," says a grateful Arif.
Rakhi, a 70-year-old local woman who too borrowed a loan under the ADP project and established a small cottage industry at her home in Gujranwala, recalls some interesting habits of Mrs Ann.
"She turned out to be very fond of Pakistani spicy food. Initially, she felt hard to digest the spicy food, but soon she got used to it."
Rakhi says Mrs Ann knew how to make friends.
"Many of us observed Pardah (veil), and were shy to meet a Gori (white) modern woman. But believe me, we became good friends soon though we didn’t know each other’s language."
Peaceful Obama
The Pakistanis who have been touched by Mrs Ann are very hopeful her son will not do any harm to their country.
"We exchange emails on and off. He has always been very polite and humble in line with his mother," says Hassan.
Although a recent survey by the Washington Times shows that a majority of Pakistanis consider Obama a danger man, he disagrees.
"Obama has been cherished by his mother, who is so kind and polite. I am sure, she has instill that kindness and humbleness in him.
"I am sure, he will cause no harm to us. He will think and do for the betterment of humanity."
Arif, whose parents borrowed a micro-finance loan through Mrs Ann, agrees.
"I wish him all the best. I am sure he will take care of our interest while keeping his mother’s relationship with Pakistan in view."
Rakhi, the elder woman helped by his mother, wants Obama to win the US presidential elections.
"Though, I have never seen him, he is the son of my friend and benefactor. My wishes are with him."